The murder of Giuliano de’ Medici as depicted is as it happened. Incidental occurrences such as the mix-up of where the Medicis would meet the cardinal and Bandini’s covert search of Giuliano’s person are portrayed accurately to prevailing history. It was indeed two priests who ignited the primary attack on Lorenzo; Francesco de’ Pazzi’s mania was truly so incensed, he stabbed his own thigh as he murdered Giuliano.
Nine-year-old Niccolò Machiavelli was a witness to the murders. What the child saw would be reflected in all his writings and his political career.
The hangings as depicted and of those particular historical characters follow the truth of history. Though all accounts of the incident make mention of Archbishop Salviati’s final bite upon Francesco de’ Pazzi, all these same accou
